SHILLONG: Meghalaya governor Krishan Kant Paul has expressed concern over rising crimes against women and children in the state.

Noting that such crimes registered an increase of 23.14 per cent in 2013 as compared to 2012, the governor said owing to the rise in crimes against women and children, the government is considering entrusting a study to North Eastern Hill University with participation of all stakeholders.

"A number of measures have been taken to prevent, detect and investigate crimes against women and children. The prosecutions of such cases are now being taken up in fast track courts/special court. Anti-human trafficking units have been set up in Shillong and Tura. Capacity building of police officers and men has been undertaken to sensitize them on this important issue. All cases of crime against women and children are being treated as Special Report cases which are supervised by senior police officers. The police department is deploying newly recruited women police officers in the rank of Sub-Inspectors to Police Stations and they are being given the responsibility to deal with these cases," the governor said in the assembly on Friday.

Pointing out that implementation of Safe and Secure Shillong City Project was on track, he said the Crime Criminal Tracking Network System Project will help citizens register their complaints and grievances through the internet, report against crime and criminals and also track their complaints.

Dwelling on economic empowerment of women, he said efforts were on to step up collection through popularization of small savings scheme, including recurring deposit, under Mahila Pradhan Kshetriya Bachat Yojana and National Savings Certificate.

"The government through its Financial Inclusion Scheme will continue to promote entrepreneurship as well as economic empowerment of women," he added.

"The state is in the process of establishing model schools and facilities for girls' hostels in nine educationally backward blocks for which construction work has already started. The government continues to implement various welfare programmes for women, children, physically handicapped, juvenile delinquents, the aged and infirm," he said.

Paul said 'Kishori Shakti Yojana' for improving the health and nutrition of adolescent girls is being implemented in four districts. He added that a shelter home for girls has been set up in Shillong.